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My Home, My Bills: TIES Event Helps Clients Save Money

May 23, 2025

News

From rent prices going through the roof to utility bills skyrocketing, consumers in Alberta have been hit from all sides.

But there are ways to manage the pain of those ever-gaining costs, created largely by rising inflation and other global factors.

Enter TIES (The Immigrant Education Society) and its Money Smart program.

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The not-for-profit hosted the first ever My Home, My Bills event on May 22, helping newcomers and other Calgarians learn some practical strategies for managing rent and utility bill payments.

“As an immigrant myself, I remember the initial struggle of understanding my bills in a new country,” TIES Manager, Settlement & Financial Literacy Noha Tanahi says.

“For years, it was just about paying on time. Now, we're empowering newcomers with the knowledge I wish I had then.”

Along to provide that knowledge; The Government of Alberta’s Utilities Consumer Advocate along with experts from Boardwalk Housing and Enmax Energy.

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Alberta’s largest energy retailer says the most common question it gets is what kind of rate customers should choose – fixed or floating?

It’s goal at the event – explain the benefits and drawbacks of both.

“In Alberta’s ever-evolving energy market, understanding your energy bill isn’t just smart - it’s empowering,” VP, Customer Experience at ENMAX Energy Corry Poole pointed out.

“When you know exactly what you’re paying for, you can make confident, cost-effective choices for your home or business.”

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Over at the Utilities Consumer Advocate (UCA) table, attendees learned how to read those bills and where to go if they need help with a dispute over charges.

Many Albertans don’t know that UCA provides one-on-one mediation between a consumer and a utility company.

Other helpful tips included how to reduce usage so that bills are kept as low as possible.

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Calgary’s housing crisis was top-of-mind for many attendees as well.

Boardwalk Housing representatives advised how to properly apply for a rental, including getting a credit check.

The rental housing giant says it understands how complicated the process can be.

“At Boardwalk, we believe affordable housing is more than just a place to live – it’s the first step toward a better future,” VP of Community & Culture Boyd Belisle says.